Headlight-controlling device.



C. A. MOBERG.

HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 27,1910.

Patentegi May 2, 1911 8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0. A. MOBERG. HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911 6 SHEETB-SHEET 3.

G. A. MOBERG.

GET CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLIGATIONIILED 00127, 1910.

HEADLI Patented May 2, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I awuwwtom WM name c. A. MOBERG. HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 001. 27, 1910,

Qtiouuq rammed May 2, 1911 O. A. MOBERG.

HEADLIGHT CONTROLLIN G DEVICE. APPLIUATION FILED OCT, 27, 1910.

991,346, Patented May 2, 1911 6 SHEETS-BHEBT 6 woc wtoz 7121 fies xi flakry Mgm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MOBERG, on NEW CAS LE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

HEADLIGHT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application flled October 27, 1910. Serial No. 589,366.

Patented May 2, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

a direction to cover the path over which the v vehicle, travel.

Heretofore, devices have been constructed whereby the headlight was held in a position parallel with or in line with the steering wheels of the vehicle. It is obvious that when a vehicle is traveling around a curve. the Wheels assume a position at a tangent to the curve and the light is therefore thrown at a tangent to the'cu'rve. produces better results than where the lights are carried by the body of the vehicle and their li ht rays thrown in a line therewith, but it does not avoid the difficulty of having the greater portion of the curve around which the vehicle is traveling uncovered by the light.

It is the object of thisinvenuon to move the lights simultaneously with the wheels in the same direction and at a greater an 'le so vessel or other conveyance has to I that not only the portion of the road eing traveled over is covered by the light, but the ,portion to be traveled over.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing" which forms a cation, and in which: p

F i are l is a front elevation of an-automobi e showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation partly in section. 'Fig. 3 is an enlar ed detail sectional view on the line 33 Fi 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal plan view party in sec tion taken immediately above the axle of the machine. .Fig. 5 is a detail elevation artly in section of the lam mounting. Fig. 6 is a front elevation o a modified form. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation part y in section thereof. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation artly in section of the forms and 7. Fig. 9 is a detail This in a way,

part of this appli topplan view of the par-ts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of the transmitting shaft. Fig. 11 is a front elevation showing a modified form wherein the lamps are arranged directly over the axle of the vehicle. partly taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 11. Fig.

14 is a horizontal section taken on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 5.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated herein an automobile 1 has been shown whichis provided with the usual chassis 2 having the projecting side bars 3 which are connected elliptic or semi-elliptic springs 5. Mounted upon the side bars 3 are lamp supporting brackets or plates 6 in which are journaled lamp sockets 7 having a squared and tapered inlel nal bore 8 which is adapted to receive the squared and Ltape'red shank 9 of the lamp staff 10. -The lower end of this stafi is preferably reduced and threaded asat 11 to receive a clamping nut 12 which holds the shank in position.

Secured upon the top of the axle by the bolts ldis a casing 14 which is composed of a pair of horizontal plates 15 and 16 connected together at their rear ends by a side plate 17. The forward end of the. casing is provided with a V-shaped inner plate 18 and a-similarly shaped outer plate 19 which are connected together upon their top by a top plate 20, thus forming a dust-proof casing. Journaled between the plates-l5 and-16 .is a gear '21 which is provided with 21 depending stud 22 which projects through the plate 16 and has keyed thereto an operating arm'28 which is hinged 1n the middle as at 24 and at its rear end is provided with an elongated slot 25 adapted to receive'an upstanding pin 26 carried by a clamp 27 which is secured to the connecting rod 28 of the steeringmechanism. This connecting rod .is adapted to operate the wheels 29 through the arms 30 connected to their hubs in the usual manner and'may be positioned at any point upon the running ear relative to the axle 4, In order to hold t e arm 23 from rattling upon the pin 26 and in order to give it plenty of vertical play, the pin 26 extends considerably above the member 27 and is provided with an adjusting nut 31 at its upper end and the pin is surrounded by a Fig. 12 is a detailed side elevation. in section of the structure shown in Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view 7 to the axle l by thelight spiral spring 32 which extends between the nut and the arm so as to normally hold it upon the clamping member 27 and, at the same time, give it free movement.

The gear 21 meshes with similar gears 33 and 34 which have no connection with each other, but which are j urnaled between the plates 18 and 19 on opposite sides of. the casing and have projecting stub shafts 35 to which are connected in any suitable manner as by the set screws 36, the shafts 87. The outer ends of these shafts are connected to the transmitting shafts 38 by means of universal joints 39. The transmitting shafts comprise separate members 10 and 41, the latter of which. is in the form of a tube adapted to receive the member 40 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 42 adapted to receive a lateral stud or key 43 upon the end of the member 40. This stud, while preventing relative rotation between the members 40 and 11 permits relative movement between the parts. The free'ends of the members 10 are connected to short shafts y means of universal joints 45 and the opposite ends of the shafts 44 are provided with yoke members 46 which carry split clamping rings 4;? adapted to be clamped onto the lower end of the lamp sockets 7 by means of the clamping bolts 48.

In. cases where the fly. wheel of the engine is in the way, the form of connection between the steering gear and the lamp socket is as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, wherein a casing composed of a pair of angular plates 49 and 50 is shown, in which are journaled the gears 51 and 52, the former being operated by the hinged arm 23 and the latter being connected by the universal joints and sliding transmission shafts 41 to the lamp sockets. In these figures the easings are shown arranged to either'side of the springs 5 and the connecting rod 28 of the steerin mechanism is shown arranged in front 0? the axle instead of behind the same. This type ofsteering is shown in the Packard and many other cars at present on the market and for this reason the device has been adapted to both types. The opcratingv arm 23 is removably connected to the stud 22 and therefore may be reversed so as to be connected to either a front or v arear connecting rod.

In both forms illustrated in this application, the driven gears are somewhat smaller than the driving gears so that the angle of throw of the wheels is centage in the lights, In other words, iI the wheels are thrown to the left 35 the lamps will be turned 45 or th-ereabout while when the wheels are straight with the vehicle the lamps will also be straight. This ratio may be increased or decreased-by increasing or decreasing the number of teeth upon the driven gears. The universal oints end isconnected to a between the lamp and increased a glven erand the sliding transmission shafts permit any reasonable amount of movement between the chassis and the axle, and the hinged operating arm 23 together with the spiral spring 32 upon the pin 26 permits considerable relative movement between the axle and the connecting rod which is caused by vibration or otherwise, without in any way damaging or interfering with the action of the parts.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 11 to 15 the casings 14 are secured directly beneath the plates 6. These casings are bolted to the axle outside of the springs 5 and are circular in outline having in one side thereof, a slot 53 to permit the passage of the operating arm 54 whose inner end is into grally connected with a circular ring 55 which fits the internal periphery of the easing and is provided with internal gear teeth 56 adapted to engage the external gear teeth 57 upon the gear 58 which is journaled upon the stub shaft 59 eccentrically mounted with respect'to the gear ring 55: The gear 58 is somewhat smaller than the gear ring 55 so that its ratio of mately twenty per cent. greater than said gear ring. The arm 54- is provided with an elongated slot 60 in its rear and adapted to ried upon the steering rod 62 and is hinged in its center as at 63 to permit relative movement between its parts and thereby accommodate any relative movement between the axle and the steering rod. The pin 61 is extended up some distance from the steering'rod and is provided wit-h an adjusting nut 64 and a spiral spring 65 surrounds the pin between the nut and the arm 54, so as to hold the latter upon the top of the steering rod and at the same time permit free movement thereof without rattling. The stub shaft 59 projects through the top of the casing 14 for a short distance where 1t has connected to it, through the universal joint:

66, a telescoping shaft 67 whose opposite yoke shaft 68 by means of a universal joint connected directly to the end of the lamp sockets by a clamping band 70.

Having thus described the invention, what is'claimed isv 1. The combination with a vehiclehaving steering wheels, of a steering mechanism for operating said wheels, a lamp, a connection the steering mechanism, said connection including a differential gear and a telescoping transnnsslon shaft whereby the lamp is turned in the same direction with, but at a greater angle than the wheels.

2. The combination with a vehicle, having steering wheels, of steering mechanism therefor including a'wheel connecting rod, and a yielding connetition between the-steer movement is approxi- 69. This yoke shaft is ing rod and the head light which includes a differential gear and a transmission shaft, said connection adapted to turn the head light a greater distance than the movement of the wheels in the same direction.

3. The combination with a vehicle, having steering wheels, of steering r mechanism therefor. including a wheelconnect-ing rod, a pair of lights mounted upon the vehicle, a differential "driving gear mounted upon the axle of the vehicle, a yielding connection be tween said gear and the connecting rod, and

yielding connections between the gear and said lamps whereby the lamps are turned in the same direction with the Wheels but at a greater angle. t

4. The combination with a vehicle having steerin wheels, of a steering rod therefor, a. pair of head lights carried by the vehicle, a driving gear'mounted on the axle of the vehicle, an adjustable operating arm for said gear connected to the steering rod, driven gears smaller than the driving gear, and operating connectionsbetween the driven gears and the lights.

5. The combination with a vehicle having steering wheels, of a steering mechanism therefor, a pair of head lights journaled on the vehicle, a driving gear mounted upon the "axle, an operating arm for said'g'ear connected to the steering rod, driven gears smaller than the driving gear andmeshing therewith independentof each other," and a telescoping shaft between each driven gear and the lights.

a, The combination with 5 vehicle, having steering wheels, of a steering rod therefor, a head light journaled on the vehicle, a driving gear mounted on the axle of the vehicle;

connection between the operating arm an the steering rod, a. driven'gear smaller than the driving gear and in mesh therewith, and

jcopi es of thll batentniay 'be obtained for an operating arm for said gear, a sliding a yielding and telescoping shaft connecting the driven gear with the light.

ing wheels, a steering rod therefor, a lamp mounted on the vehicle, a yielding shaft connected to the lamp, a connection etween the steering rod and the shaft including a gear ring, and a smallerigear arranged inside the" ring. i a v v 8 The combination wit a vehicle having steering wheels, of a steeri g rod therefor, a lamp mounted to rotate on the vehicle, a yielding shaft connected to the lamp, an-opcrating arm connected to the steering rod, a

casing mounted on the axle, a gear rm ournaled 1n. the casing and connected'wl said operating arm,-and a pinioneonnecte'd 7. In combination, a vehicle having steerto the shaft and mounted eccentricallyjinside the ring and in mesh therewith 9. The,combination with a vehicle having" I,

steering wheels,of a steering rod therefor, a lamp mounted to rotate on the vehicle, a shaft connected tothe lamp, a hinged operatingarm adjustably connected tot'hest'eer ing rod, :1 casingmountedon the axle'gfa' gear ring journaled in the casing" and connected with said operatin arm, anda. pinion-con nected to the she and mounted-'eccentrically inside'the ringand in meshitherewith.

10. The combination with a vehicle 'hav- 'ing steering devices, of means {to :o'perate ,said devices, a lamp carriedby the vehicle, a. differential gear carried by the axle,"connection between the same and the steering de ,vice operating means, and 'a'connection-between the gear and lamp. j y i a 1 In testimon'y whereofl afiix mysignatm'e in presence oftwo witnesses. p M jo Aa Ias ainon nlte Witnesses: I I E EnMoNs'roN', JrL,

five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner of new," Washington, D. 1}. 

